The Chiefs have announced their team to play the Crusaders at AMI Stadium on Friday night.
The match will be the first game on New Zealand soil for All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina since the 2011 Rugby World Cup. It will also be the first match in Chiefs colours for prop Jamie Mackintosh and centre Robbie Fruean.
In naming his team, head coach Dave Rennie said, “We have a lot of respect for the Crusaders and are excited by this match-up.
"The boys have been training since November and we have been planning since August, so we are really looking forward to the competition starting properly.”
Friday night's match presents itself as a tremendous opportunity for some of the young Chiefs - who have shown great potential in the last few weeks - to make their Super Rugby debut.
This group includes flanker Tevita Kolomatangi who starts in the number seven jersey, Nathan Harris, James Lowe and potentially Matt Symons/Liam Squire and Anton Lienert-Brown (if confirmed to play).
The Chiefs will play their first home game at Waikato Stadium the following week on Saturday 1 March against the Highlanders.
Chiefs XV
1. Jamie Mackintosh
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Ben Tameifuna
4. Mike Fitzgerald
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Liam Messam (C)
7. Tevita Koloamatangi
8. Kane Thompson
9. Augustine Pulu
10. Aaron Cruden (C)
11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Tim Nanai-Williams
15. Mils Muliaina
Reserves
16. Nathan Harris
17. Pauliasi Manu
18. Ben Afeaki
19. Matt Symons/Liam Squire
20. Nick Crosswell
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
22. Andrew Horrell/Anton Leinert-Brown
23. James Lowe
